A TALENTED Inverclyde musician is banging the drum to support young carers with a set of new coaching sessions.

Lesley McLaren, who runs the successful Hit Squad school from her studio in Gourock, is working alongside local cultural organisation RIG Arts on the exciting new project.

A veteran of the music scene locally and nationally, Lesley is keen to provide a creative outlet for young women who are carers or are looked-after themselves.

Lesley, 42, who drums with star Claire Grogan's Altered Images, said: "The sessions are free and hopefully will start as soon as we are allowed, probably at the end of April.

"They are aimed at young people aged up to 25, who are care-affected, so that is young female carers who are looking after a parent or sibling, or who are in a care setting.

"We want to provide an outlet from their caring responsibilities and give them the same opportunities of children who are not care-affected.

"Drumming can be a stress release and the sessions will also be good from a social aspect as there will be three people in each one."

The sessions will take place in RIG Arts' new studio at the old tobacco warehouse in Clarence Street, where Lesley will also have her own office.

Lesley, who has been drumming since she was 12, hopes the sessions - called She Plays - will encourage more girls to have a go.

She said: "There will be three different blocks running for eight weeks where people can learn the basics of drum kit and learn to apply that into songs."

There will also be songwriting input from local musician Shelagh McKay Jones.

If anyone is interested in signing up for the course they should make contact with RIG Arts by sending an email to info@RIGARTS.org